Shoe-shaping device



May 22, 1962 H. R. WAKEMAN 3,035,289

` sHoE-sHAPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jfl@ E /JMay 22, 1962 H. R. wAKl-:MAN 3,035,289

sHoE-sHAPING DEVICE Filed sept. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent Oice 3,035,289 Patented May 22, 1962 3,035,289 SHOE-SHAPINGDEVICE Harold R. Wakeman, 300 Dalkeith Ave.,

' Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Sept. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 763,868 8 Claims.(Cl. 12--120.5)

The present invention relates in general to shoe-shaping devices and, inparticular, to a shoe-shaping device applying external reshaping forcesto a shoe.

Prior proposals to reshape a shoe by external forces involve applyingtwo pressures respectively at the toe and heel portions to straightenthe shoe sole against a flat sole-engaging surface. My invention effectsbetter reshaping by applying forces at two points on the heel portion ofthe shoe spaced respectively near the neck and near the heel and at onepoint on the toe portion. It is an object of my invention to provide atrinity of external reshaping forces to a shoe, preferably in atriangular pattern.

The invention contemplates the application of forces at two points onthe heel portion of the shoe, one a forward force applied to the heelitself in the general direcl tion of the toe of the shoe, the other arearward force applied in the opposite direction to the heel-back of theshoe. The latter force is particularly important to the invention as itnarrows the neck of the shoe by elliptically elongating the shoe openingas a result of the urging together of the side edges of the shoe, thenarrow neck ybeing a characteristic of a new shoe.

Counteracting and establishing such forces is a third force applied tothe toe portion of the shoe in a substantially downward directionthrough a toe hold-down bracket.v Application of this third forcecompletes a triangle of forces thereby suspending the shoe upper intension resulting from the simultaneous action of the externally appliedreshaping forces.

Another object `of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping deviceallowing for 100% aeration or ventilation. This is possible by leavingthe inside of the shoe virtually free from bulky and cumbersomestretching elements.

An important object of the invention is to provide a shoe-shaping devicethat permits the shoe to realign itself, following its ownpre-established contour pattern, to its original orthopedic characterand shape, without deformation frorn internal forces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping devicewherein the shoe is placed in a shoe-shaping position by a relativelysimple, one-hand, easily-performed motion.

Another object of the invention is tuo provide a shoeshaping device thatcan be precision adjusted for both size of shoe and tension desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shoe-shapingdevice having a resilient support means engageable with the ball portionof the shoe sole and exterting an upward force thereon in a directionaway from the sole. This force stabilizes the shoe during inseri tioninto the device by preventing it from swinging or rolling during suchinsertion. Additionally, this force tends to straighten the shoe andcreates a binding action at the toe hold-down bracket that serves tohold the shoe firmly in position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoeshaping device thathas a positive working action and the problems and drudgery associatedwith shoe handling, storage and care.

A further object is to provide a shoe-shaping device that can be mountedon any wall or surface or that can bridge suitably spaced mountingsupports. In this connection it is an object to provide a shoe-shapingdevice that can be mounted in any position, whether it be upright,horizontal or on a slope, and that can be installed in virtually anyexisting improvised or built-in storage area, e.g., on a wall or floorof a closet, a wood or metal cabinet or locker, an article of luggage,etc.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the presentinvention, together with various other objects, advantages, features andresults thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art towhich the invention pertains, may be achieved with the exemplaryembodiment described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a shoe-shaping device applyingexternal reshaping forces to a shoe;

FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of the shoe-shaping device of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-,sectional view of the lower portion of atoe hold-down bracket attached to a mounting member, taken along line 33 or `FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a rigid heel-back bracketand a heel engagement means attached to a mounting member taken alongline 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG, 5 is an enlarged front elevational view taken along line 5-5 ofFIG. l;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe rigid heel-back bracket and heel engagement means;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the engagement meansbetween the heel-back bracket and the heel engagement means taken alongline 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a further embodiment of therigid heel-back bracket and heel engagement means; a

HG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of an alternative embodiment of aresilient support means;

FIG. l0 shows the trinity of exterior forces applied to a shoe by theinvention while FIG. 1l is a vectorial of these forces.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numeral 1t)designates a shoe-shaping device attached at longitudinally spacedpositions to any wall or surface, here shown as a flat-surfaced wall 12,by any suitable fastening means such as by bolts or by screws 13 and 15(FIGS. 3 and 4) as shown. A shoe 14 having a heel-back 16, a heel 18, asole 20, a ball portion 22, a neck 24 and a toe 26 is shown in ashoe-shaping position within the device 10.

The shoe-shaping device 10 includes a longitudinal mounting member 28exemplified as being of a substantially U-shaped cross section having abottom wall 30 and side walls 32 (FIG. 5),'the upper edges 34 of theside walls 32 being turned inward and parallel with the bottom wall 30forming a longitudinal channel 316.

At one end of the longitudinally channeled mounting member 28 is a rigidheel-back bracket 38 and a heel engagement means 40. The rigid heel-backbracket 3'8 comprises a base end 42, la post portion 44, and a dependingor return portion 46 spaced from said base end 42 and curvedcommensurately with the heel-back 16 and of a size to fit into and pressrearwardly with a force A (FIG. 10) against the heel-back 16 of the shoe14 when a force `C is applied to the toe of the shoe to move same into ashoe-shaping position. This rearward force A is particularly importantin that it narrows the neck 24 of the shoe 14 by elliptical elongationas a result of the urging together of the side edges of the shoe neck24,

such a narrow shoe neck 24 being a characteristic of a new shoe or onecontinually shaped by using the invention. For increased rigidity in thebracket 38 substantially U-shaped reinforcing ridges or creases 41 areformed in the sheet metal of the bracket near the return portion 46 andat the base end 42.

The base end l42 of the rigid heel-back bracket 38 is bent atsubstantially a right angle to form the heel engagement means 40 whichincludes a plate 48 transverse to the post portion 44 and having anup-turned heel engaging member S having a forwardly facing surfaceadapted to engage the rear curved surface of the heel 18 of the shoe. Asshown, the heel engaging member is formed by two upturned tabspositioned on each side of a longitudinal axis through the channeledmounting member 28. At one end of the transverse plate 48 is adownturned ange 52 extending within the channel 36 and secured by aflush or countersunk rivet 54 to the bottom 30 thereof. Extending fromthe other end of the transverse plate 48 is another down-turned flange56 within the channel 36 and secured by a rivet S8 (FIG. 2) to thebottom 30 thereof. The heel engagement means 40 exerts a forward force B(FIG. on the heel 1-'8 of the shoe 14 in a direction toward the shoe toe26 when the latter is forced toward said mounting member 28 into ashoe-shaping position.

At the other end of the longitudinally channeled mounting member 28 islocated a toe hold-down bracket 60 including a lower portion 62, aresilient base or post portion 64, and a latch portion 66 having a latchmember 68. The latch member 68 is bent to hook over and secure the toeof the shoe sole 20. The latch portion 66 has arms 70 that are bentaround the resilient post portion 64 to form guide elements slidablealong the post portion 64. The latch portion 66 and the post portion 64are adjustably attached by a vertically adjustable means including aslot 72 in the post portion 64 and a rotatable clamping nut 74 passingthrough the slot 72 and threaded into the latch portion 66. Thisvertical adjustment permits the device to be adjusted to accommodaeshoes of diiferent sizes or shapes and allows for the adjustment of thetension applied to the shoe 14 when in shoe-shaping position.

The lower portion 62 of the toe hold-down bracket 60 is in the form of abase plate parallel to the mounting member 28 and at one end has anup-turned ange member 76. The lower end of the resilient post portion 64is sandwiched between this flange member 76 and a square washer-likeelement 78 by rivets 80.

At the other end of the lower portion 62 is an upwardly curved resilientsupport means 82 positioned to engage the ball portion 22 of the shoe14. The engagement of the support means 82 with the shoe ball 22 tendsto straighten the shoe and stabilize it during insertion. Primarily,however, it prevents rocking of the shoe and it creates a binding actionat the toe hold-down bracket 60 by firmly securing the toe 26 in alocked position with respect to the latch member 68. Also at the sameend of the lower portion 62 is a down-turned ilange member 84 ridingwithin the longitudinal channel 36 as a guide element and aringsidewardly to such extent that its edges lie below and slide beneath theupper edges 34 of the channel. The guiding flange member 84 permits thelower portion y62 to be longitudinally adjustably attached to thechanneled mounting member 28. A knurled thumb nut y86 having a screwportion passing through a hole 87 in the lower portion 62 and downwardinto a slidable securing element or nut 88 within the channel 36 allowsfor the adjustability necessary to conform to shoes of various lengths.

The toe hold-down bracket 60 exerts the substantially downward force Con the shoe toe 26, as suggested. As the force C is the third and finalforce applied to the shoe 14, the shoe 14 is now in a state ofequilibrium, held in tension by the simultaneous action of a trinity offorces, A, B and C. In a vector triangle as seen in FIG. ll the force Cinitiates the reaction forces A and B which cause the shoe 14 to bereshaped by being held in tension as a result of a trinity of exteriorforces applied at points of the apices of a triangle.

An alternative form of the rigid heel-back bracket 38 is shown in FIG. 6wherein the bracket 38 includes a base end 90. Here the post portion 92is made as a separate element comprising a strip of flat metal bentbox-like with its upright legs forming support members 93 extendinglongitudinally of the device for rigidity, these members being bowedtogether by a rivet 94. The ends of the strip overlap at the top and areriveted at 95 to the base of a bent member having a return portion 96,there being an overlying member 97 rigidifying the structure and beingheld against the base by the rivets 95 and by a further rivet 99. Theoverlying member 97 has a tab 100 lying along the return portion 96 andfurther rigidifying the structure.

The base end 90 of the bracket 38 is detachably connected to a heelengagement means 102, being insertable beneath a stamped-out tonguemember 104 of the latter and having an olf-set ilange member 105overlying the llange member 56 of the heel engagement means 102.

The two flange members have aligned openings receiving the mountingscrew 13 (FIG. 2). The remainder of the heel engagement means 102 issimilar to the aforementioned heel engagement means 40 and similar partsare designated by identical numerals.

In FIG. 8 the rigid heel-back bracket 106 includes a base end 103, achannel-shaped post portion 110, and a return portion 112. U-shapeddepressions or creases 113 are pressed into the metal for increasedrigidity. At the base end 108 of the rigid heel-back bracket 106 is aheel engagement means 114 including a transverse plate 115 havingU-shaped depressions or creases 116 and having the heel-engaging members50 defined previously. At opposite ends of the transverse plate are theoff-set flanges 52 and 56 previously described. The base end 108 of thebracket 106 is detachably connected to the heel engagement means 114 bya removable pin 116 passing through pin-receiving ears 117 of the plate115 and through corresponding openings in the sides of thechannel-shaped post portion 110. This permits shipping the heel portionof the device disassembled. Insertion of the pin 116 holds the bottomedges of the channel-shaped post portion 110 firmly against the plate115 and rigidies the structure.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative resilient support means 118 made of heavywire. Here the lower portion 120 of the toe hold-down bracket 60 has atone end an up-turned flange member 76', functioning as the ange member76 previously described, and a hole 87 for receiving the previouslydescribed adjusting nut 85. At the other end of the lower portion 120 isa resilient wire support means 122 extending upward to engage theshoe-ball portion 22 when the shoe 14 is in said shoe-shaping position.The wire support means 122 is attached to the lower portion 120 bystamped-out wire-receiving tongues 124 and eX- tends downward over theend of the lower portion 120 bending into a T-shape 126 riding withinthe longitudinal channel 36 as a guide element and anchoring the wiresupport means 122 against turning in the tongues 124.

In order to utilize the advantages and objects of this inventionhereinbefore set forth, the preferred procedure for insuring proper shoereshaping is as follows: The shoe 14 is inserted beneath the returnportion 46, 96 or 112 of the rigid heel-back bracket 38 with the returnportion engaging the heel-back 16. As the above step is completed theshoe heel 18 settles against the heel engagement means 40 with the heelengaging the upturned members 50. The shoe 14 is now supported in aninclined position by these two contact points at the heel and heelbackpositions. In order to place the shoe in tension and consequently in areshaping position the shoe toe 26 is pressed downward until the latchmember 68 engages the top of the toe of the sole with the result thatthe shoe 14 is now held in a shoe-shaping position allowing for naturalrealignment to its original orthopedic character.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that variousminor changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated insuch embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined by the claims which follow.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a shoe-shaping device applying external reshaping forces to a shoehaving a heel supporting surface therewithin for supporting the heel ofthe wearer, the combination of: a mounting member; a rigid heel-backbracket having a base end attached to said mounting member, a postportion, and a return portion rigidly attached to but spaced from saidpost portion and of a size to t into and press rearwardly against theheel-back of the shoe, said return portion extending toward said heelsupporting surface of said shoe but terminating short thereof; a heelengagement means adjacent the base end of said post portion engaging theheel of the shoe and exerting thereon a force toward the toe of the shoewhen the latter is forced toward said mounting member into ashoe-shaping position; a resilient support means attached to saidmounting member and positioned .to engage the shoe sole near the toethereof; and a toe hold-down bracket attached t0 said mounting memberengaging the toe of the shoe sole when the shoe is in said shoe-shapingposition.

2. In a shoe-shaping device for applying reshaping forces to a shoewhile the interior thereof is substantially open and unobstructed, thecombination of: a base structure; a heel-back bracket; a toe hold-downbracket; means for mounting said brackets on said base structure inspaced relation to receive a shoe therebetween, said heel-back bracketincluding a post portion extending away from said base structure at afixed angle with respect thereto and a return portion at the end of saidpost portion rigidly connected to such post portion and spacedtherefrom, said return portion extending toward said base structure adistance only suicient to extend into the shoe and engage the heel-backof the shoe exclusively in the upper half thereof to press rearwardlythereagainst; a heel-engaging means including' at least oneheel-engaging member engaging a rear external surface of the heel of theshoe and exerting thereon a forward force toward the toe of the shoewhen the latter is forced toward said base structure into a shoe-shapingposition, said toe hold-down bracket engaging a toe portion of the shoesole to hold same in said shoe-shaping position, said toe hold-downbracket providing a lower portion substantially parallel to said basestructure having at one end an upturned flange and at its other end aresilient member positioned to engage the bottom of the shoe sole toexert an upward force thereon, said toe hold-down bracket having a latchmeans attached to said upturned flange.

3. A shoe-shaping device for applying to a shoe a trinity of reshapingforces from the exterior thereof, said device including:

(a) a mounting member;

(b) a heel engagement means attached to said mounting member near therear end thereof and extending away therefrom in a given direction,

(c) said heel engagement means providing at least one forwardly facingsurface positioned to engage the rear external heel surface of the shoeto be straightened;

(d) a rigid heel-back bracket having (e) a rigid post portion attachedto said mounting member against forward movement of its top andextending fromsaid mounting member in said direction,

l r y, 6

(f) said post portion having a rigid return portion rigidly connected tosaid post portion at the top thereof and returning from said top only ashort distance toward said mounting member in spaced relation to saidpost portion,

(g) said return portion having a rearwardly facing pressure surfaceengaging the inner surface of the heel back of the shoe exclusively inthe upper half of such heel back,

(h) said heel engagement means and its forwardly facing surface beingattached to said mounting member at a position forward of said returnportion a sufficient distance to dispose the shoe to be shaped with itssole inclined away from said mounting member and with the toe end of itssole spaced a substantial distance from said mounting member;

(i) and a toe hold-down bracket attached to said mounting member nearits forward end and extending from said mounting member in saiddirection,

(j) said toe hold-down bracket having a latch member spaced from saidmounting member a distance less than said substantial distance,

(k) said latch member having a rearwardly extending portion adapted toengage and hold said toe end of said sole when the toe of the shoe ispressed toward said mounting member to apply said reshaping forces tothe shoe deforming it into a shoe-shaping position.

4. A shoe-shaping device as defined in claim 3 in which the distancebetween said rearwardly extending portion of said latch member and saidmounting member is a large fraction of the distance between the top ofsaid post portion and said mounting member to hold the sole of the shoeinclined from said mounting member when in said shoe-shaping position.

5. A shoe-shaping device as defined in claim 3 in which (a) said toehold-down bracket includes a post member, (b) and including means foradjustably connecting said latch member to said post member to vary thedis? tance between said rearwardly extending portion of said latchmember and said mounting member, and

(c) means for clamping said latch member to said post member in adjustedposition.

6. A shoe-shaping device as defined in claim 3 in which 7. Ashoe-shaping device as defined in claim 3 in which (a) said toehold-down bracket includes a post member carrying said latch member,

(b) said toe hold-down bracket including a base member extending alongsaid mounting member, and

(c) means for adjustably securing said base member to said mountingmember at various positions spaced longitudinally of said mountingmember to change the spacing between said toe hold-down bracket and saidheel engagement means.

8. A shoe-shaping device as defined in claim 7 including a resilientmember attached to said base member between said post member and saidheel engagement means protruding toward the sole of the shoe andengageable with such sole rearwardly of the toe end there- 7 of to applypressure thereto when said shoe is in said shoe-shaping position.

References Cited in the Ele of this patent 8 Gano Feb. 1, 1944 ShurtzJuly 4, 1950 Dahl Jan. 20, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 23,1929

